Returning to Work While Breastfeeding: A Deep Insight

Introduction

Breastfeeding is a mandatory process through which the newborn receives all the required nutrients from the mother. A newborn should be breastfed for six months, after which breastfeeding can be accompanied by the intake of other solid foods. It is very difficult to maintain both personal and professional life. Breastmilk is very important as it acts as the baby’s vaccine and protects the newborn from various illnesses and infections. Breast Milk helps in the development of the baby’s brain and also protects the mother’s health.

What Are Some of the Alternatives for the Mother to Breastfeed the Baby While Going to Work?

Some ways the mother can breastfeed the baby even after getting back to work are

• Keeping the baby with themselves the whole day and breastfeeding the baby.

• If the office is nearby, then the mother can go home on breaks to breastfeed the baby or someone can bring the baby to the office for breastfeeding.

• If the office is far away, then the mother can seek help from the daycare center where they can go and breastfeed the baby when the mother is at work.

• If breastfeeding is not happening during work hours, then the breastmilk can be pumped and stored so that the caregiver can provide the milk to the baby whenever necessary.

• The working hours can be altered based on the breastfeeding time if possible.

How to Plan Before Getting Back to Work?

There are certain ways to plan breastfeeding before getting back to work, some are

• The pumped milk should have a label with the date before storing it in the freezer so that the caregiver will know which milk should be given first.

• A trail with childcare is necessary before heading to work.

• The breastmilk can be stored in a sterile container or bags at a specific temperature for about eight days.

How Should the Mother Be Prepared Before Returning to Work?

The mother should be prepared in certain ways, such as

• Pads and cloth lining should be ready to prevent any milk stains on the cloth.

• The mother should have a sterile milk storage container.

• Labels.

• Insulated cooler with ice to store the expressed milk.

• If the mother uses a breast pump, material will be required to clean up the device.

• Breastmilk should be stored properly in a sterile, non-plastic container. These should be cleaned using warm, soapy water.

How Can a Mother Collect and Store Breast Milk at the Workplace?

At work, the mother should express the milk as often as possible and should store the expressed milk properly in a sterile container along with the date and time. This milk should be kept in a freezer. When the stored milk is placed in the refrigerator, place it at the back so the temperature tends to be constant. It should not be stored at the door as each time the door is opened, the temperature rises, which causes the bacteria in the milk to multiply.

What Should Other Employees Know About Breastfeeding?

Some plans need to be discussed with the employees, like

• The mother needs to take multiple breaks, like two to three breaks during working hours.

• The office should provide a private lactation room.

• The expressed milk must be stored in the refrigerator or an insulated cooler.

How to Return to Work?

The mother should return to work gradually. They should inform the office about their plan to breastfeed the baby even after returning to work post-maternity leave. The mother should take a long leave, which can help to increase the milk supply. When the mother returns to work, flexible shifts should be given.

How to Introduce Bottle-Fed to Breastfed Babies?

The baby who breastfeeds should be trained to bottle-feed, some steps are

• Once the mother is well established in breastfeeding the baby, after about four weeks, the mother should start pumping after one feed a day. These are the leftover milk, so the mother can pump only a small amount.

• Place the first immediately in the freezer. Other pumped milk can be added once it has been cooled.

• The doctor may provide the details on how much milk the baby may consume in a day, depending on the newborn’s weight.

• When the caregiver is free, try to call them and ask the caregiver to feed the baby with the expressed milk stored in the bottle. Some babies may accept the bottle feed immediately.

• Always, the expressed milk should be stored in the refrigerator, and when the baby needs milk, the bottle from the refrigerator should be placed in a bowl of hot water, and then it should be provided.

• The baby should be placed in the sitting upright position while bottle feeding.

• The bottle must be placed in a titled position where the baby controls how much and how fast the milk should come.

• Tickle the baby to open the mouth gently, the nipple of the bottle should be placed against the palate.

• In some cases, the caregiver uses some clothes or objects of the mother over her so that the baby gets the mother's scent during breastfeeding.

• During the first time of bottle feeding, the mother can be close by but should not be present in the same room.

What Needs to Be Done Once the Mother Is Back From Work?

• The mother will surely miss the baby all day, and so will the baby. So once the mother is back home, they must have a relaxed reconnection with their babies. There should be a conversation with the caregiver about how the day was.

• The babies feed often during the evening and night to compensate for the missing feeds in the daytime when the mother is away. There should not be any other plans in the evening as the time should be completely invested in reconnecting with the baby.

• There should not be any separation of the mother and the baby during off-work hours.

Conclusion

Getting back to work while breastfeeding the baby is a complex thing to do. The newborn needs to be breastfed for at least six months. The mothers who return to work early should make some alternatives so that the baby somehow gets breastmilk. The mother can take the baby to the workspace or can store the breast milk and refrigerate it and ask the caregiver to provide the bottle of milk to the baby whenever required. Many facilities should also be provided in the office to those mothers who breastfeed their babies even after returning to work.